The importance of dental hygiene treatment in Tucker

One of the most prevalent myths about oral health is that you don’t need dental treatment unless you have a problem. Many people view regular biannual visits as simple check-ups, and they often postpone or skip these appointments. In truth, a hygiene treatment at Dentistry at Kennesaw Point in Kennesaw or Tucker is much more than a check-up. It is the foundation of preventive care, which can help you avoid painful, harmful, and costly oral health problems.

What a hygiene appointment includes

Examination – You might think that your mouth is healthy if nothing hurts. However, oral disease is often painless in the early stages, and it takes a trained eye to spot the first signs. For example, decay begins as tiny pits in the enamel, which may be hidden in areas that you can’t see in the mirror. You might not notice cavities until they have eroded a large enough area to expose the nerve, causing a toothache. Gum disease also begins with very subtle symptoms, and it might not hurt even in more advanced stages. In either case, the trained eye of a dental professional can spot the problem early, when minimal treatment is needed.

Teeth cleaning – We hope that you brush and floss regularly and carefully. However, even with the best at-home hygiene habits, chances are you miss a little plaque occasionally. After all, you can’t see between teeth, under dental bridges, or at the back of your mouth. These hard to see areas are also the trickiest to clean. Unfortunately, that sticky plaque hardens and becomes tartar very quickly, usually within 24 to 72 hours. That means, if you miss the same little spot a couple of times, it might become too hard for a toothbrush to remove. Without professional cleaning, those areas become the foundation for decay and gum disease.

Teeth polishing – Once your teeth are free of plaque and tartar, your hygienist will polish them to a beautiful sheen. This not only looks and feels great, but it also has oral health benefits. Food particles, bacteria, and plaque easily adhere to a rough surface. Polishing makes it more difficult for this biofilm to form, and easier for you to remove it.

Education and advice – Don’t worry; we aren’t going to lecture you. However, we can provide guidance for better and easier at-home oral care. This ranges from instructions for efficient brushing and flossing techniques, to recommendations about quality products. Maybe you want to try a whitening toothpaste, but you are worried about abrasives damaging tooth enamel. Perhaps you have limited muscle use in your hands, so you need an electric toothbrush that really works. This is your opportunity to get expert advice.

Why preventive oral care matters

Clean teeth are whiter, because your hygienist removes stubborn biofilm that includes surface stains. Overall a healthy smile is more attractive. You can save a lot of time and money if oral disease is detected and treated early. These and many other benefits of oral health are quite obvious. However, many people do not realize the impact that dental problems can have on their entire bodies and quality of life.

You may have heard the term “oral systemic health.” It refers to the scientifically proven link between oral disease and overall (systemic) health problems. Some effects are indirect, such as dental pain or missing teeth causing inefficient chewing, making proper digestion more difficult. Some are structural, such as jaw problems (temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMJD) causing migraines, tinnitus, facial pain and more. Some, such as oral infections that contribute to systemic disease, are associated with harmful bacteria and the effects of chronic inflammation.

Periodontal disease and its impact on the body is probably the most researched aspect of oral systemic health. Multiple scientific studies have linked periodontal disease with diabetes, heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, some cancers, problematic pregnancy, and other conditions. Early researchers theorized that harmful bacteria entered the bloodstream via the lungs or digestive system. That is a possible factor, especially in respiratory disease. However, current research suggests that increased risk of conditions such as heart disease is likely caused by the effects of chronic inflammation.

The scientific and medical community still have much to learn about oral systemic health, and it is an area of active ongoing research. However, one thing is abundantly clear. The benefits of great oral health go far beyond your teeth. Hygiene treatment is a simple and essential step towards a healthier mouth and healthier body.